Fluted anode with minimal density gradients and capacitor comprising same
An anode with an anode body with a first side and a second side opposite to said first side, multiple anode wires and a conductive polymer cathode.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/199,626 filed Aug. 9, 2005 which is in-turn a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/830,616 filed Apr. 23, 2004 which is abandoned. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/730,736 filed Dec. 8, 2003 which is pending and incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to an improved anode with offset, or unequal, flutes and minimal density gradients, capacitors comprising the improved anode and the synergism of such anodes with conductive polymeric cathodes. More particularly the present invention is directed to an improved anode comprising flutes and multiple wires and anodes with a conductive polymer cathode.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere is an ongoing need to improve the electrical characteristics of capacitors. In particular, there is a need to lower the ESR of capacitors.
The anode of a typical solid electrolytic capacitor consists of a porous anode body, with a lead wire extending beyond the anode body and connected to the positive mounting termination of the capacitor. The anode is formed by first pressing a valve metal powder into a pellet. Valve metals include Al, Ta, Nb, Ti, Zr, Hf, W, and mixtures, alloys or suboxides of these metals. The anode is sintered to form fused connections between the individual powder particles. There are several resistances to current flow in the anode portion of a solid electrolytic capacitor. The current must flow from the positive mounting termination to the lead wire attached to or embedded in the anode body. Current flows through the portion of the anode lead which extends outside the body of the anode. The current flow through the positive termination and the anode lead produce series resistances which contribute to the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the finished device. Resistances inside the body of the anode generate parallel resistances which also contribute to the ESR of the finished device. The current travels from the point of lead wire egress to the anode body to all points of the anode body through the path(s) of least resistance. The current must pass from the lead wire into the anode body through points of contact between the lead wire and the particles which make up the porous anode body. The current must then travel through the porous anode body, through small necks of the sintered particles which make up the anode body.
Resistance in the lead wires and in the anodes body is governed by the general equation for resistance.
Resistance=resistivity×path length/cross sectional area.
Increasing the cross sectional area available for current flow reduces the resistance as indicated by the equation above. The maximum diameter of the lead wire is determined by the dimensions of the anode. The lead wire diameter can not be greater than the thickness of the anode. Thus the maximum cross sectional area for current to flow through a single cylindrical lead wire is πd2/4 wherein d is the diameter. For a given wire diameter the maximum cross-sectional area for current flow increases proportionately to the number of lead wires connecting the anode body to the positive mounting termination. Thus by increasing the number of wires the resistance in the connection between the positive mounting termination and the anode body is reduced.
Although the lead wire(s) can be attached to the anode body, for example by welding to the top of the body, imbedding the lead wire(s) in the anode body reduces the resistance for current to flow. For lead wires which extend into the porous anode body the cross sectional area available for current to flow from the lead wire to the body is proportional to the external surface area of the lead within the body of the anode. Maximum Area is proportional to π×d×l (for single cylindrical lead wires). The cross sectional area for this resistance term can be increased by increasing the number of lead wires. The path length for current to flow from the lead wire to points of the anode body which are the greatest distance from the lead wire is reduced by utilizing multiple lead wires or non-cylindrical lead wires, for example, flat or ribbon lead wire.
Fluted anodes comprising a furrow or groove on the otherwise monolithic capacitor body as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,949,639 and 3,345,545 reduce the path length through the internal polymer and increase the cross-sectional area for current to flow through the external polymer. Capacitors utilizing fluted anodes as illustrated in
Even though the use of fluted anodes has enjoyed much success the electrical properties achievable thereby have reached a plateau. Further improvement requires modifications of the anode or the process used to form the anode.
Through diligent research a limitation of radially compressed fluted anodes has been determined to reside in the variation in density created as a function of the process in which these anodes are formed. Density variations have been determined to be dependent on the type of compression. While not restricted to any theory it is postulated that variations in density cause variations in the impregnation of solid electrolyte that serves as the cathode of the electrolytic capacitor. It is also postulated that variations in density cause variations in the external coating coverage of the solid electrolyte. Referring to
By realizing this previously unappreciated phenomenon the present inventors have developed an improved fluted anode, and capacitor, which extends the properties of fluted anodes beyond that previously considered feasible thereby allowing for further improvements in electrical characteristics.
Yet another problem associated with fluted anodes is insufficient conduction between the anode and the cathode lead frame. A scanning electron microscope image of a cross-section of a partial capacitor is shown in
Through diligent research the present inventors have advanced the art of capacitor design, and more importantly the art of anode design and manufacture, beyond that considered feasible in the prior art therefore allowing for further improvements in electrical characteristics in the ongoing pursuit thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the invention to provide an improved fluted anode, and capacitor comprising the anode.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an anode with improved consistency in solid electrolyte impregnation.
A particular feature of the present invention is the ability to further improve electrical properties of capacitors, and circuits containing capacitors, without increases in ESR or inductance, while still maintaining high capacitance per unit volume.
A particular feature of the present invention is the ultra-low ESR capacitor, less than 7 mOhms and more preferably less than 6 mOhms, provided by the combination of a multi-lead wire fluted anode configuration using a conductive polymer cathode.
These and other advantages, as will be realized, are provided in an anode with an anode body with a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, a conductive polymer cathode and multiple anode leads. First flutes are on the first side and second flutes are on the second side.
Yet another embodiment is provided in an anode with an anode body with a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, a conductive polymer cathode and multiple anode leads. First flutes are on the first side and second flutes are on the second side. The first flutes have a depth which is at least 50% more than a depth of the second flutes.
A preferred method for forming the anode comprises the steps of:
- placing a powder between a first die and a second die wherein the first die has first flutes and the second die has second flutes and the first flutes and the second flutes are offset;
- placing at least two anode wires in the powder; and
- decreasing the distance between the first die and the second die perpendicular to the at least two anode wires and compressing the powder there between.
Another method for forming the anode comprises the steps of:
- placing a powder between a first die and a second die wherein the first die has first flutes and said second die has second flutes and the first flutes have a first depth and the second flutes have a second depth;
- placing at least two anode wires in the powder; and
- decreasing the distance between the first die and the second die perpendicular to the at least two anode wires and compressing the powder there between.
A particularly preferred embodiment is provided in a capacitor with an anode body having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The anode has first flutes on the first side and second flutes on the second side. At least two anode wires extend from the anode body and a dielectric coating is on the anode body. A conductive polymer coating is on the dielectric coating.
Yet another embodiment is provided in a capacitor having an anode body with a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The anode body has first flutes on the first side and second flutes on the second side. The first flutes have a depth which is at least 50% more than a depth of the second flutes. At least two anode leads extend from the anode body and a dielectric coating is on the anode body. A conductive polymer cathode is on the dielectric coating.
Yet another embodiment is provided in a capacitor having an anode body with a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The anode body has first flutes on the first side and at least two anode wires extending from the anode wherein at least one anode wire has a cross-sectional aspect ratio of at least 2.0 to no more than 100.0. A dielectric is coated on the anode body and a conductive polymer is coated on the dielectric.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
An improved anode for use in a capacitor is detailed wherein the anode has lower deviations in density, reduced resistance, better contact with the lead frame, and improved electrical characteristics of the capacitor resulting from the improvements in the anode. The anode has multiple anode lead wires. The cathode comprises a conductive polymer.
The present invention will be described with reference to the various figures forming an integral part of the specification. Throughout the various drawings similar elements will be numbered accordingly.
Resistance of a capacitor has been considered by those in the art to be primarily due to the resistance of the cathode and semiconductor layers with minimal contribution from the anode. This understanding is based on the large differences between the resistance of the anode, which is about 13.1×10−6 Ω/cm for tantalum, as compared to about 1 Ω/cm for MnO2 and about 0.01 Ω/cm for conductive polymers. For example, it is estimated that up to 90% of the ESR for a capacitor comprising a tantalum anode and a MnO2 cathode is attributed to the MnO2 cathode which has relative low conductivity. For these reasons the resistance of the anode has been ignored to a large extent. Any improvement in the resistivity of the anode would be expected to be such a negligible contribution that further advances were not considered. As described herein one of skill in the art would have no basis for considering a synergistic relationship between certain cathodes particularly with regards to lowering the overall resistance of the capacitive body.
An anode of the present invention is illustrated in perspective view in
The anode body, 211, comprises a series of offset flutes, 213, wherein there is minimal lateral projection between flutes. By minimizing the overlap of flutes the areas subjected to increased, or decreased, compression is minimized thereby decreasing the variation in density. Each flute face, 215, is preferably approximately the same distance “a” from an outer face surface, 214, directly across the capacitor body. In the embodiment each flute wall, 216, is approximately coplanar with a wall directly across the capacitor body since this represents a capacitor body with the same density throughout which is the theoretical limit and highly desirable.
Another embodiment of a radially compressed anode of the present invention is illustrated in
Yet another embodiment is illustrated in
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is set forth in
The method of pressing an anode with offset flutes is preferably selected from horizontal compaction and vertical compaction with horizontal being defined as compaction substantially perpendicular to gravity and vertical being defined as substantially parallel to gravity. With horizontal compaction the opposing dies each have flutes of the same size. It would be understood that the die forms the negative structure and a flute of the die ultimately corresponds to an island in the compressed anode. Similarly, an island on the die corresponds to a flute in the compressed anode. With vertical compaction the upper die and lower die must have a different flute depth to ensure that compression is consistent across the capacitor anode. The details of the dies will be described in more detail with reference to
The method of compressing the powder into an anode will be described with reference to
In
A method for vertical compaction will be described relative to
TD≅BD*(1−CR)
wherein CR is the compaction ratio defined as the final compression height divided by the initial powder fill height using consistent units for all variables wherein the deviations from equality are less than about 10%. The powder fill and compression height are measured from the bottom of the flute 254.
Another embodiment of the present invention is the use of unequal flute depths as illustrated in front perspective view in
The cathode lead frame is preferably adhesively attached to the minor faces, 2104, as would be realized to improve contact. In an alternative embodiment the cathode lead frame can be adhesively attached to the major faces, 2103, to decrease the conduction path length from the cathode lead frame to the opposite side of the anode. It would be apparent to one of skill in the art that the cathode would be attached to a face which does not have an anode wire.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the percent deviation in density in any region of the anode is no more than 10% from the average density. More preferably, the percent deviation in density in any region of the anode is no more than 5% from the average density and most preferably the percent deviation in density in any region of the anode is no more than 1% from the average density. Low deviations in density are preferably achieved using a radial compaction press as described in
A horizontal powder press 26 is illustrated in
Four powered drive mechanisms 51, 52, 53, 54 are mounted on the support 28. The drive mechanism 51 includes an electric motor 56 secured to the support 28 and driving a horizontally disposed screw 57 which extends through a threaded opening 58 in a thrust block 59. The thrust block 59 has a T-bar tongue and groove connection 60 with the support 28 permitting the thrust block 59 to move in the axial direction of the screw 57 when the screw is rotated by the motor 56. The thrust block 59 includes a pair of cantilever arms 61 which are connected to the rib punches 36 by thrust bars 62. The drive mechanism 52 includes a powered driver in the form of an electric motor 66 having an output screw 67 in threaded engagement with an internally threaded opening 68 through a thrust block 69. The thrust block 69 has a T-bar tongue and groove connection with the support 28. The thrust block 69 includes a cantilever arm 71 which is connected to the channel punches 37 by thrust bars 72.
The drive mechanisms 53, 54 in a similar manner include electric drive motors 76, 77, screws 78, 79 and screw blocks 81, 82 connected to the rib and channel punches 36′, 37′ by thrust arms 83, 84 and thrust bars 86, 87.
In the next manufacturing step, shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Following the compaction step illustrated by
A capacitor of the present invention is illustrated in
An anode of the capacitor illustrated in
The anode metal includes all metals typically employed in solid capacitors including tantalum, aluminum, niobium, hafnium, zirconium, titanium, or compounds and alloys of these elements. Most preferably, the anode metal is selected from tantalum or niobium oxides, or tantalum nitrides or subnitrides.
The anode wire is preferably the same material as the metal forming the anode. The anode wire can be welded to a pressed and sintered anode or it can be inserted into the powder and secured by pressure due to the compression and sintering of the anode. Pressing the anode powder with the anode wire therein is preferred.
The dielectric layer is not limited herein and can be any dielectric commonly employed in solid capacitors. Mentioned as particularly relevant include oxides of the anode metal.
Coated on the surface of the dielectric layer is a conductive layer. The conductive layer acts as the cathode of the capacitive component. The cathode layer may comprise a primary cathode layer which covers the internal and external dielectric surfaces, and an external cathode layer comprising the primary cathode layer and one or more additional external layers. The primary cathode is preferably an organic material and particularly intrinsically conducting polymers. Mentioned as exemplary polymers are 7,7′,8,8′-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) complex, polymerized anilines, polymerized pyrroles, polymerized thiophenes such as polyethylenedioxythiophene, and derivatives thereof. Generally, the primary cathode layer is coated with a carbon layer and a metal layer such as nickel, copper, silver, or a combination of layers including carbon, and adhesive layers.
A particularly preferred conducting polymer is illustrated in Formula I:
R1 and R2 of Formula 1 are chosen to prohibit polymerization at the β-site of the ring. It is most preferred that only a-site polymerization be allowed to proceed. Therefore, it is preferred that R1 and R2 are not hydrogen. More preferably R1 and R2 are α-directors. Therefore, ether linkages are preferable over alkyl linkages. It is most preferred that the groups are small to avoid steric interferences. For these reasons R1 and R2 taken together as —O—(CH2)2—O— is most preferred. For these reasons a particularly preferred polymer is 3,4-polyethylene dioxythiophene (PEDT).
In Formula 1, X is S or N most preferable X is S.
R1 and R2 independently represent linear or branched C1-C16 alkyl or C2-C18 alkoxyalkyl; or are C3-C8 cycloalkyl, phenyl or benzyl which are unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, halogen or OR3; or R1 and R2, taken together, are linear C1-C6 alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, halogen, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, C1-C4 alkylphenyl, C1-C4 alkoxyphenyl, halophenyl, C1-C4 alkylbenzyl, C1-C4 alkoxybenzyl or halobenzyl, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered heterocyclic structure containing two oxygen elements. R3 preferably represents hydrogen, linear or branched C1-C16 alkyl or C2-C18 alkoxyalkyl; or are C3-C8 cycloalkyl, phenyl or benzyl which are unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C6 alkyl.
Both pure monomer and monomer solution in various solvents can be employed. Common oxidants including iron (III) toluenesulfonate, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonium persulfate are preferred to be used in the polymerization process.
As typically employed in the art, various dopants can be incorporated into the polymer during the polymerization process. Dopants can be derived from various acids or salts, including aromatic sulfonic acids, aromatic polysulfonic acids, organic sulfonic acids with hydroxy group, organic sulfonic acids with carboxylhydroxyl group, alicyclic sulfonic acids and benzoquinone sulfonic acids, benzene disulfonic acid, sulfosalicylic acid, sulfoisophthalic acid, camphorsulfonic acid, benzoquinone sulfonic acid, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, toluenesulfonic acid. Other suitable dopants include sulfoquinone, anthracenemonosulfonic acid, substituted naphthalenemonosulfonic acid, substituted benzenesulfonic acid or heterocyclic sulfonic acids as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,121 which is included herein by reference thereto.
The polymer can be applied by any technique commonly employed in forming layers on a capacitor including dipping into a polymer solution or a polymer slurry, spraying oxidizer dopant and monomer onto the pellet or foil, allowing the polymerization to occur for a set time, and ending the polymerization with a wash. The polymer can also be applied by electrolytic deposition as well known in the art.
The protective resin is not limited herein and may include any non-conducting material commonly employed in electrical components.
The flute anode design reduces ESR. The benefits of the flute design include: a) the reduction of resistance of the cathode layer contained within the anode by reducing the path length; and 2) the reduction of resistances associated with the external cathode and graphite layers, including interfacial resistances, by increasing the surface area through which current flows through these external layers and interfaces. However, there are also drawbacks that reduce the effectiveness of the flute design. One is the increased anode internal electrical resistance due to reduced cross section area between the opposing flutes.
To determine the impact of flute depth versus resistance a series of tantalum anodes were pressed from a commercially available capacitor grade tantalum powder using a suitable organic binder as is commonly used in the industry. Each anode had a width of 0.14 inches (3.56 mm), a length of 0.19 inches (4.82 mm) a thickness of 0.067 inches (1.70 mm), flute widths of 0.022 inches (0.56 mm) and flute depths of 0.013 (0.33), 0.015 (0.38), 0.017 (0.43), 0.019 (0.48), 0.021 (0.53) inches (mm) respectively. Each anode was pressed to a density of 6 g/cc and sintered at 1375° C. for 15 min. In each anode a single tantalum wire of 0.016 inch (0.41 mm) diameter was incorporated. The electrical resistance was measured and is represented graphically in
The results presented in
We have compared the ESR of MnO2 fluted anodes (0.02″ flute depth and 0.026 flute width, Sample 2) against that of standard (flat) anodes (Sample 1) with the same mass and overall dimensions (0.13″ width, 0.19″ length, and 0.066″ thickness). An ESR reduction of 10 mOhms was achieved using the fluted design as shown in Table 1.
A series of tantalum anodes were prepared using S506 Powder Tantalum (Cabot Corp.) with standard lubricants and pressed to 6 g/cc press density. Each anode had a width of 0.14 inches, a length of 0.19 inches, a powder weight of 0.144 grams. The anodes were sintered at 1375° C. for 15 min. In each case 0.16 inch tantalum wires were incorporated. Four types of anodes were prepared. Two types were standard rectangular anodes with a thickness of 0.055 inches wherein one type had a single anode wire and the other type had three anode wires. The other two types comprised fluted anodes with a thickness of 0.067 inches, flute widths of 0.22 inches and a flute width of 0.019 inches. One type of fluted anode had a single anode wire and the other type of fluted anode had three anode wires. The anodes were processed using polyethylenedioxythiophene conductive polymer process in a single processing batch to minimize the process variation. ESR of eight of each type of conductive polymer coated anode was measured and summarized in Table 1.
As shown in Table 1, for a standard single wire configuration anticipated ESR reduction was not observed when a flute design was compared (Sample 4) against the standard flat anode (Sample 3).
Experiment results listed in Table 1 demonstrate the advantage of the multi-wire-fluted anode design when used with conductive polymer cathodes on a fluted anode. Comparing Samples 3 and 4, for example, the ESR is the same for standard and fluted anodes when a conductive polymer is used. Comparing samples 3 and 5 indicates that the use of multiple anode wires decreases ESR by a substantial amount. Comparing samples 5 and 6 illustrate the surprising synergistic results obtained by the combination of fluted anode, multiple anode wires and a conductive polymer cathode. In summary, a comparison of the ESR of 3 wire standard anodes (Sample 5) and 3 wire fluted anodes (Sample 6) yields a difference 0.8 mOhm, which is a 12% ESR reduction solely attributed to the unexpected synergy of multi-wire and fluted anode combination.
With the present invention an ESR of 7 mOhms or less can be achieved. More specifically, the present invention allows for the manufacture of capacitors with an ESR of 2 to 6 mOhms.
Though the use of fluted anodes has enjoyed much success, the ESR achievable thereby has reached a plateau with the recent application of conductive polymer as the cathode material, which has conductivity 100 times higher than that of its MnO2 counterpart. For very low ESR conductive polymer capacitors, e.g. ESR<10 mOhm, the low ESR advantage of fluted anode design with standard single lead wire configuration can't be fully realized.
This synergistic effect of multi-wire-fluted anode configuration is a significant finding, which allows the production of ultra-low ESR capacitors beyond the capability of standard anode wire configuration designs. It should be pointed out that while in principle such configuration will result in lower ESR in any electrolytic capacitors regardless of their cathode materials, it has the most impact on low ESR conductive polymer capacitors because the anode internal resistance is a significant contributor to the ESR comparing to their non conductive polymer counterparts.
The invention has been described with particular emphasis on the preferred embodiments without limit thereto. The metes and bounds of the invention are set forth in the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A capacitor comprising:
- an anode body with a first side and a second side opposite to said first side;
- first flutes on said first side;
- at least two anode wires extending from said anode body;
- a dielectric coating on said anode body; and
- a conductive polymer coating on said dielectric coating forming said capacitor.
2. The capacitor of claim 1 further comprising second flutes on said second side.
3. The capacitor of claim 2 wherein said first flutes and said second flutes are offset.
4. The capacitor of claim 2 wherein said first flutes each have a first flute wall and said second flutes each have a second flute wall wherein a cross-sectional area of said anode body between a planer projection of said first flute wall and a planer projection of said second flute wall is less than 50% of the total cross-sectional area of said anode body.
5. The capacitor of claim 2 wherein a depth of said first flute (TD) is related to a depth of said second flute (BD) by the equation: TD≅BD*(1−CR)
- wherein CR is the compaction ratio percentage defined as the final compression height divided by the initial powder fill height.
6. The capacitor of claim 1 wherein said at least one anode wire has a cross-sectional aspect ratio of at least 2.0 to no more than 100.0.
7. The capacitor of claim 1 wherein said conductive polymer coating comprises a polymer selected from intrinsically conducting polymers and doped polymers.
8. The capacitor of claim 1 wherein said conductive polymer coating comprises a material, or derivative of a material, selected from polythiophene, polyethylenedioxythiophene, polyaniline and polypyrrole,
9. The capacitor of claim 1 wherein said conductive polymer coating comprises a material, or derivative of a material selected from polyethylenedioxythiophene, 7,7′,8,8′-tetracyanoquinonedimethane complex salt and polyaniline.
10. The capacitor of claim 1 wherein said anode body comprises at least one element, or alloy of an element selected from tantalum, aluminum, niobium, hafnium, zirconium and titanium.
11. The capacitor of claim 10 wherein said anode body comprises at least one element, or alloy of an element selected from niobium oxide, tantalum nitride and tantalum subnitride.
12. The capacitor of claim 1 with an ESR of less than 7 mOhms.
13. The capacitor of claim 12 with an ESR of less than 6 mOhms.
14. The capacitor of claim 13 with an ESR 2-6 mOhms.
15. A capacitor comprising:
- an anode body with a first side and a second side opposite to said first side; first flutes on said first side and second flutes on said second side; and wherein said first flutes have a depth which is at least 50% more than a depth of said second flutes;
- at least two anode leads extending from said anode body;
- a dielectric coating on said anode body; and
- a conductive polymer cathode on said dielectric coating.
16. The anode of claim 15 wherein said first flutes have a depth which is at least 100% more than a depth of said second flutes.
17. The anode of claim 15 comprising an anode wire with an aspect ratio of at least 2.0 to no more than 100.0.
18. The capacitor of claim 15 further comprising a cathode lead frame.
19. The capacitor of claim 15 wherein said cathode lead frame is on said first side of said anode.
20. The capacitor of claim 15 wherein said cathode lead frame is on said second side of said anode.
21. The capacitor of claim 15 wherein said conductive polymer coating comprises a polymer selected from intrinsically conducting polymers.
22. The capacitor of claim 15 wherein said conductive polymer coating comprises a material, or derivative of a material selected from polythiophene, polyethylenedioxythiophene, polyaniline and polypyrrole,
23. The capacitor of claim 15 wherein said conductive polymer coating comprises a material, or derivative of a material selected from polyethylenedioxythiophene, 7,7′,8,8′-tetracyanoquinonedimethane complex salt and polyaniline.
24. The capacitor of claim 15 wherein said anode body comprises at least one element, or alloy of an element selected from tantalum, aluminum, niobium, hafnium, zirconium and titanium.
25. The capacitor of claim 24 wherein said anode body comprises at least one element, or alloy of an element selected from niobium oxide, tantalum nitride and tantalum subnitride.
26. The capacitor of claim 15 with an ESR of less than 7 mOhms.
27. The capacitor of claim 26 with an ESR of less than 6 mOhms.
28. The capacitor of claim 27 with an ESR 2-6 mOhms.
29. A capacitor comprising:
- an anode body with a first side and a second side opposite to said first side;
- first flutes on said first side; and
- at least two anode wires extending from said anode wherein at least one anode wire of said at least two anode wires has a cross-sectional aspect ratio of at least 2.0 to no more than 100.0;
- a dielectric coated on said anode body; and
- a conductive polymer coated on said dielectric.
30. The capacitor of claim 29 further comprising at least two anode wires with said cross-sectional aspect ratio of at least 2.0 to no more than 100.0.
31. The capacitor of claim 29 further comprising second flutes on a second side.
32. The capacitor of claim 31 wherein said first flutes have a depth which is at least 50% more than a depth of said second flutes.
33. The capacitor of claim 32 wherein said first flutes have a depth which is at least 100% more than a depth of said second flutes.
34. The capacitor of claim 33 wherein said first flutes have a depth which is at least 200% more than a depth of said second flutes.
35. The capacitor of claim 29 wherein said conductive polymer coating comprises a polymer selected from intrinsically conducting polymers.
36. The capacitor of claim 29 wherein said conductive polymer coating comprises a material, or derivative of a material selected from polythiophene, polyethylenedioxythiophene, polyaniline and polypyrrole,
37. The capacitor of claim 29 wherein said conductive polymer coating comprises a material, or derivative of a material selected from polyethylenedioxythiophene, 7,7′,8,8′-tetracyanoquinonedimethane complex salt and polyaniline.
38. The capacitor of claim 29 wherein said anode body comprises at least one element, or alloy of an element selected from tantalum, aluminum, niobium, hafnium, zirconium and titanium.
39. The capacitor of claim 38 wherein said anode body comprises at least one element, or alloy of an element selected from niobium oxide, tantalum nitride and tantalum subnitride.
40. The capacitor of claim 29 with an ESR of less than 7 mOhms.
41. The capacitor of claim 40 with an ESR of less than 6 mOhms.
42. The capacitor of claim 41 with an ESR 2-6 mOhms.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 21, 2006
Publication Date: Feb 15, 2007
Patent Grant number: 7342775
Inventors: Randy Hahn (Simpsonville, SC), Yongjian Qui (Greenville, SC)
Application Number: 11/524,643
International Classification: H01G 9/04 (20060101); H01G 9/145 (20060101);